Damper system with sealing plug

Abstract

A damper system with a sealing plug, which incorporates an air flow monitoring system. The damper system utilizes current designs of the iris damper and incorporates a sealing plug positioned in the open circular cross-section of the iris damper. One version of the sealing plug incorporates a sealing groove in the sealing plug, while another version employs different types of sealing gaskets. The sealing groove and sealing gaskets provide a positive seal about the sealing plug when the iris blades are in the closed position. An additional feature that can be incorporated into the sealing plug is an air flow monitoring system. The sealing plug can include a chamber where total pressure of the air flow passing the sealing plug can be measured.

I claim:  
     
       1. A damper system for controlling air flow in air ducting comprising: 
       an iris damper having a casing, iris blades, and an open cross-section to allow air to pass;  
       a sealing plug mounted in said open cross-section;  
       a seal about said sealing plug which engages said iris blades to provide a seal between said sealing plug and said iris blades to prevent the air from passing through said open cross-section when said iris blades close off said open cross-section, said seal is a groove about said sealing plug.  
     
     
       2. The damper system of  claim 1 , wherein said separate material is flexible in nature. 
     
     
       3. The damper system of  claim 1 , wherein said grove includes gasket material in said groove. 
     
     
       4. The damper system of  claim 1 , wherein said groove is v-shaped. 
     
     
       5. A damper system for controlling air flow in air ducting comprising: 
       an iris damper having a casing, iris blades, and an open cross-section to allow air to pass;  
       a sealing plug mounted in said open cross-section;  
       a seal about said sealing plug which engages said iris blades to provide a seal between said sealing plug and said iris blades to prevent the air from passing through said open cross-section when said iris blades close off said open cross-section, said seal is a separate material attached about said sealing plug and includes a groove which engages said iris blades.  
     
     
       6. The damper system of  claim 5 , wherein said groove is v-shaped. 
     
     
       7. The damper system of  claim 5 , wherein said separate material is flexible in nature. 
     
     
       8. A damper system for controlling air flow in air ducting comprising: 
       an iris damper having a casing, iris blades, and an open cross-section to allow air to pass;  
       a sealing plug mounted in said open cross-section, said sealing plug includes at least one air flow input to receive said air flow from the ducting, said sealing plug includes a chamber to receive said air flow from said open inlet, and said chamber includes a pressure port to provide pressure measurements to a signal processor;  
       a seal about said sealing plug which engages said iris blades to provide a seal between said sealing plug and said iris blades to prevent the air from passing through said open cross-section when said iris blades close off said open cross-section.  
     
     
       9. The damper system of  claim 8 , wherein said seal is a groove about said sealing plug. 
     
     
       10. The damper system of  claim 9 , wherein said groove includes gasket material in said groove. 
     
     
       11. The damper system of  claim 8 , wherein said seal is a separate material attached about said sealing plug. 
     
     
       12. The damper system of  claim 11 , wherein said separate material includes a groove which engages said iris blades. 
     
     
       13. The damper system of  claim 12 , wherein said groove is v-shaped. 
     
     
       14. The damper system of  claim 11 , wherein said separate material is flexible in nature. 
     
     
       15. The damper system of  claim 8 , wherein said damper system includes a static pressure port to provide static pressure measurements said signal processor. 
     
     
       16. The damper system of  claim 15 , wherein said seal is a groove in said sealing plug. 
     
     
       17. The damper system of  claim 16 , wherein said groove includes gasket material in said groove. 
     
     
       18. The damper system of  claim 15 , wherein said seal is a separate material attached about said sealing plug. 
     
     
       19. The damper system of  claim 18 , wherein said separate material includes a groove which engages said iris blades. 
     
     
       20. The damper system of  claim 19 , wherein said groove is v-shaped. 
     
     
       21. The damper system of  claim 18 , wherein said separate material is flexible in nature. 
     
     
       22. The damper system of  claim 15 , wherein said sealing plug includes a plurality of air flow inputs to receive said air flow from the ducting. 
     
     
       23. The damper system of  claim 8 , wherein said sealing plug includes a plurality of air flow inputs to receive said air flow from the ducting. 
     
     
       24. The damper system of  claim 8 , wherein said chamber includes a porous noise absorption media to suppress noise created by the air flow entering said chamber.